49ers Release Jake Moody After Struggles Continue

In a move that has sent ripples across the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers have officially decided to waive kicker Jake Moody. Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Moody was once seen as a promising talent but has struggled to live up to expectations in his two-plus seasons with the franchise. The decision comes in the wake of his disappointing performance in the 49ers’ season-opening 17-13 win against the Seattle Seahawks, where Moody missed two critical field-goal attempts.

High Expectations and Early Promise

Jake Moody entered the NFL as the highest-drafted kicker since Roberto Aguayo in 2016, a testament to his standout college career at Michigan. Evaluators praised his accuracy and poise, with some even noting his potential to excel on kickoffs. In his rookie season, Moody showed flashes of brilliance, converting 84.0% of his field goals and leading the league with 60 extra points made on 61 attempts. His rookie-year performance seemed to justify the 49ers’ investment, and expectations were high heading into the 2024 season.

However, injuries and inconsistency soon derailed Moody’s trajectory. A promising start to the 2024 season, where he made 93.9% of his field goals through five weeks, was cut short by an ankle injury that sidelined him for three games. Upon his return, Moody struggled with long-distance kicks, converting only 5 of 14 attempts from over 40 yards. As Pro Football Rumors noted, these struggles carried over into the 2025 season, ultimately leading to the 49ers’ decision to move on.

The Breaking Point: 2025 Season Opener

The tipping point for Moody’s tenure with the 49ers came during their Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. The 25-year-old kicker missed a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter, a near-automatic distance for NFL kickers, and had a 36-yard attempt blocked in the third quarter. While he did manage to convert a 32-yard field goal later in the game, his misses kept the game closer than expected and forced the 49ers to rely on a late touchdown to secure the win.

According to CBS Sports, Moody’s overall performance as a 49er painted a troubling picture. Across 32 games, he connected on just 74.2% of his field goal attempts (46-of-62), a figure well below the league average for kickers. His struggles with longer kicks were particularly glaring, with a 50% success rate on attempts from beyond 40 yards during the 2024 season. The pressure of being a high draft pick, combined with his inconsistent performances, seemed to weigh heavily on Moody, as The New York Times highlighted.

Next Steps for the 49ers

With Moody now off the roster, the 49ers find themselves in urgent need of a reliable kicker. As of now, they do not have another kicker on their active roster or practice squad, making the position a top priority ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Potential options include re-signing Greg Joseph, a six-year veteran who competed with Moody during the offseason but was cut before the preseason. Joseph recently worked out for the Bills and Dolphins, though neither team signed him.

Other possibilities include poaching kickers from other teams’ practice squads or exploring the free-agent market, where several veteran kickers remain available. According to NFL.com, the 49ers’ special teams coordinator, Brant Boyer, had previously expressed confidence in Moody despite his struggles, but the team’s latest decision underscores the urgency to stabilize the position.

The release of Jake Moody marks the end of an era for the 49ers, who had hoped to find long-term stability at the kicker position. While his tenure was marred by inconsistency, the team’s focus now shifts to finding a replacement capable of delivering under pressure as they aim to contend in the highly competitive NFC West.